Sabbath Afternoon INTRODUCTION

Keeping the Sabbath is a privilege and a challenge because we will hear a lot of arguments against it. Hatred, opposition and even rejection by our own family may occur as we decide to walk with Christ and keep the Sabbath. But we need to stand as an opportunity for others to see how it is to be called by God.

Inspiration says, “Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive of the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God. Only those that are sanctified through the truth will compose the royal family in the heavenly mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him and keep His commandments.” {19MR 176.1}

This week’s SSLesson will look more on the special day God had provided us as His chosen people – the commandment-keeping people SDAs, who adhere to the principles of the true observance of the Sabbath. He gave it as a sign for His people (Ezek. 20:12, 20).

Outline of the Study

Sunday: Sabbath and Creation (Rest to Remember - Exo. 20:8)

Monday: Celebrating Freedom (Rest to be Thankful–Deut. 5:15;

Rom. 6:17-18)

Tuesday: The Stranger in Your Gates (Rest for Everyone–Exo. 23:12)

Wednesday: Serving Others Honors God’s Sabbath (Rest to Serve–

Luke 13:16; Jn. 5:1-17)

Thursday: The Sign That We Belong to God (Rest Dedicated to God – Exo. 31:13; Heb. 4:9-10)

Friday: Further Study

Prayer Thought

The Sabbath was honored by all the children of Adam that remained loyal to God. But Cain and his descendants did not respect the day upon which God had rested. They chose their own time for labor and for rest, regardless of Jehovah’s express command. . . . {CTr 38.3}

For some time the two classes remained separate. The race of Cain, spreading from the place of their first settlement, dispersed over the plains and valleys where the children of Seth had dwelt; and the latter, in order to escape from their contaminating influence, withdrew to the mountains, and there made their home. . . . But in the lapse of time they ventured, little by little, to mingle with the inhabitants of the valleys. This association was productive of the worst results. “The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair.” The children of Seth, attracted by the beauty of the daughters of Cain’s descendants, displeased the Lord by intermarrying with them. Many of the worshipers of God were beguiled into sin by the allurements that were now constantly before them, and they lost their peculiar, holy character. . . . {CTr 38.4}

Memory Verse

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings” (Lev. 23:3, NKJV).

Words of Assurance

“And Christ has linked His teaching, not only with the day of rest, but with the week of toil. He has wisdom for him who drives the plow and sows the seed. In the plowing and sowing, the tilling and reaping, He teaches us to see an illustration of His work of grace in the heart. So in every line of useful labor and every association of life, He desires us to find a lesson of divine truth. Then our daily toil will no longer absorb our attention and lead us to forget God; it will continually remind us of our Creator and Redeemer. The thought of God will run like a thread of gold through all our homely cares and occupations. For us the glory of His face will again rest upon the face of nature. We shall ever be learning new lessons of heavenly truth, and growing into the image of His purity. Thus shall we "be taught of the Lord"; and in the lot wherein we are called, we shall "abide with God." Isaiah 54:13; 1 Corinthians 7:24. {COL 26.1}

Sunday: Sabbath and Creation (Rest to Remember-Exo. 20:8) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8)

Heed First Word of the Fourth Commandment

"Remember" is placed at the very first of the Fourth Commandment. Parents, you need to remember the Sabbath day yourselves to keep it holy. And if you do this, you are giving the proper instruction to your children; they will reverence God's holy day. . . . Christian education is needed in your homes. All through the week keep the Lord's holy Sabbath in view, for that day is to be devoted to the service of God. It is a day when the hands are to rest from worldly employment, when the soul's needs are to receive especial attention. {CG 527.3}

Sabbath Originated at Creation – The Literal Week

Like the Sabbath, the week originated at creation, and it has been preserved and brought down to us through Bible history. God himself measured off the first week as a sample for successive weeks to the close of time. Like every other, it consisted of seven literal days. Six days were employed in the work of creation; upon the seventh, God rested, and he then blessed this day, and set it apart as a day of rest for man. {CE 190.1}

Who are those who are not “remembering” the Sabbath to Keep it Holy?

In many families [on Sabbath] boots and shoes are blacked and brushed, and stitches are taken, all because these little odds and ends were not done on Friday. They did not "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." . . . {CG 528.3}

On Friday the clothing of the children is to be looked after. During the week they should be all laid out by their own hands under the direction of the mother, so that they can dress quietly, without any confusion or rushing about and hasty speeches. {CG 528.4}

Sanctification rest Upon those who Keep in Mind the Sabbath

All through the week we are to have the Sabbath in mind and be making preparation to keep it according to the commandment. We are not merely to observe the Sabbath as a legal matter. We are to understand its spiritual bearing upon all the transactions of life. All who regard the Sabbath as a sign between them and God, showing that He is the God who sanctifies them, will represent the principles of His government. They will bring into daily practice the laws of His kingdom. Daily it will be their prayer that the sanctification of the Sabbath may rest upon them. Every day they will have the companionship of Christ and will exemplify the perfection of His character. Every day their light will shine forth to others in good works. {CCh 262.3}

Every Moment is Consecrated, Holy Time

There is another work that should receive attention on the preparation day. On this day all differences between brethren, whether in the family or in the church, should be put away. Let all bitterness and wrath and malice be expelled from the soul. In a humble spirit, "confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another."

Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to read God's Word, to sing and pray.

We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time. {FLB 34.8}

Consider the following

On Sabbath we remember the power of God. He created this world and everything on it, even human beings (Ex. 20:11; Gn. 1).

We should also remember that we were created in a special way. We are different to the other creatures on Earth. We were made in the image of God (Gn. 1:27; 9:6).

Lastly, we should remember that we are responsible for taking care of God’s creation. We are stewards of His creation (Gn. 1:28; 2:15).

Monday: Celebrating Freedom (Rest to be Thankful – Deut. 5:15; Rom. 6:17-18)

“And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day” (Deuteronomy 5:15)

Questions to Ponder

In Sunday’s lesson we talk about the word, “remember” in connection with the creation week. How about in this point of our study? Let’s consider some questions here:

1. What were the circumstances that the Jews need to remember?

2. Do we have the same or similar experiences?

3. In what ways can we relate with their (Israelites) experiences?

4. Is Paul linking sin in the discussion of remembering our condition before the knowledge we have on the Sabbath truth?

5. Are we enslaved in any way that we will be reminded of?

Inspirations declare, “When there is a continual reliance upon God, a continual practice of self-denial, the workers will not sink into discouragement. They will not worry. They will remember that in every place there are souls of whom the Lord has need, and whom the devil is seeking, that he may bind them fast in the slavery of sin of disregard for the law of God.—Manual for Canvassers, pages 22, 23. {CEv 103.2}

Remember we are in Slavery to Sin and Satan

The Scriptures are indeed fulfilled in this, that the blind are leading the blind. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. These deluded souls are under the most abject slavery to the will of demons. They have allied themselves to the powers of darkness and have no strength to go contrary to the will of demons. This is their boasted liberty. By Satan are they overcome and brought into bondage, and the great liberty promised to those they deceive is helpless slavery to sin and Satan. {Con 90.4}

Diligence and Consecration Needed

I charge you, Do not do half-hearted work. Some of you who in the beginning of your ministry were earnest and persevering, have grown weary of protracted effort and ceaseless turmoil, and you sigh for repose, and dream of leisure and fireside comfort. Some are greatly overworked, and are suffering in consequence; and others, by doing their work negligently, have brought double work upon these unselfish, thorough, God-fearing workers. Some are not willing to bear reproach for Christ's sake. Think what mighty truths God has entrusted to our keeping, and let earnest work follow your thoughts. Do mighty strokes for God. There are no compromises to be made with sin, nor any with timidity and cowardice. The Christian laborer knows no drudgery in his Heaven-appointed work. He enters into the joy of his Lord in seeing souls emancipated from the slavery of sin; and this joy more than repays him for every self-denial. {GW92 455.3}

Living Near the Close of the Great Conflict

Should we not see in the world today Christians who in all the features of their work are worthy of the name they bear? who aspire to the doing of deeds worthy of valiant soldiers of the cross? We are living near the close of the great conflict, when many souls are to be rescued from the slavery of sin. We are living in a time when to Christ's followers the promise specially belongs: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end." Matthew 28:20. He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, He who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, bids us let our light shine brightly before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. In such rich measure has light been given to God's people that Christ is justified in telling them that they are to be the light of the world. {8T 45.4}

Consider the following

Were we slaves? The Jews were, but we have never been slaves… Or have we? Let’s read Romans 6:17-18.

Sin has enslaved us all, no exceptions. The Sabbath is a moment to thank God for having liberated us from the slavery of sin through the precious blood of Jesus.

The fourth commandment gives us rest with the salvation that God got for us with His mighty arm.

Tuesday: The Stranger in Your Gates (Rest for Everyone–Exo. 23:12)

“Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed” (Exodus 23:12)

Think about these questions!

If we but realized how earnestly Jesus worked to sow the world with gospel seed, we, living at the very close of probation,

1. Would labor untiringly to give the bread of life to perishing souls?

2. Why are we so cold and indifferent?

3. Why are our hearts so unimpressible?

4. Why are we so unwilling to give ourselves to the work to which Christ consecrated His life?

Something must be done to cure the terrible indifference that has taken hold upon us. Let us bow our heads in humiliation as we see how much less we have done than we might have done to sow the seeds of truth. {8T 46.2}

The Blessings Shared to the Strangers

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." Deuteronomy 31:10-13. {PP 503.2}

Promises of God for those who Amend their Ways and Doings

"Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever." Jeremiah 7:2-7. {PK 413.2}

Truth not Lived, not Imparted, Loses its Life-giving Power, It’s Healing Virtue

God calls upon every church member to enter His service. Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted to others, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Everyone must learn to work and to stand in his place as a burden bearer. Every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying out of the great plan of redemption. The entire church, acting as one, blending in perfect union, is to be a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit. {8T 47.2}

Lived Light Cannot be Hid

The children of light are to be as a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid. The world will be condemned by the testimony of those who follow the light as it shines upon their pathway. "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light." The servants of Jesus are to bear the precious truth to the world, and to present the claims of God to every soul, not pandering to custom, or lessening the responsibility of any soul, but declaring the whole counsel of God. {RH, January 31, 1888 par. 13}

Consider the following

This commandment was given at Creation, so it’s for everyone. Therefore, God commanded Israel to share the blessings of the Sabbath rest with everyone around them.

The Christian Church has received Israel’s privileges (1Pet. 2:9). We are also called to share these blessings with everyone around us.

So according to the commandment, we should treat others with love and respect. We must not abuse or mistreat anyone, not even any animal.

Wednesday: Serving Others Honors God’s Sabbath (Rest to Serve – Luke 13:16; Jn. 5:1-17)

“So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath” (Luke 13:16)

Criticizing Others like the Pharisees Charging Accusations

It was just before this that Jesus had a second time performed the miracle of healing a man possessed, blind and dumb, and the Pharisees had reiterated the charge, "He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils." Matthew 9:34. Christ told them plainly that in attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, they were cutting themselves off from the fountain of blessing. Those who had spoken against Jesus Himself, not discerning His divine character, might receive forgiveness; for through the Holy Spirit they might be brought to see their error and repent. Whatever the sin, if the soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away in the blood of Christ; but he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is placing himself where repentance and faith cannot come to him. It is by the Spirit that God works upon the heart; when men willfully reject the Spirit, and declare It to be from Satan, they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them. When the Spirit is finally rejected, there is no more that God can do for the soul. {DA 321.3}

Serve God with the Right Person in Our Institution

If the right persons are connected with the work, and if all will humble their hearts before God, although there may now be a heavy debt resting upon the institution, the Lord will work in such a way that the debt will be lessened, and souls will be converted to the truth, because they see that the workers are following in the way of the Lord, and keeping His commandments. This is the only hope for the prosperity of our sanitariums. It is useless to think of any other way. We cannot expect the blessing of God to rest upon us, if we serve God at will, and let Him alone at pleasure. {CH 292.3}

Living Power Must Attend Message

Living power must attend the message of Christ's second appearing. We must not rest until we see many souls converted to the blessed hope of the Lord's return. In the days of the apostles the message that they bore wrought a real work, turning souls from idols to serve the living God. The work to be done today is just as real, and the truth is just as much truth; only we are to give the message with as much more earnestness as the coming of the Lord is nearer. The message for this time is positive, simple, and of the deepest importance. We must act like men and women who believe it. Waiting, watching, working, praying, warning the world--this is our work. . . . {Ev 219.3}

Homeward Bound as we Serve Others

All heaven is astir, engaged in preparing for the day of God's vengeance, the day of Zion's deliverance. The time of tarrying is almost ended. The pilgrims and strangers who have so long been seeking a better country are almost home. I feel as if I must cry aloud, Homeward bound! Rapidly we are nearing the time when Christ will come to gather His redeemed to Himself.--Review and Herald, Nov. 13, 1913. {Ev 219.4}

4W’s our Responsibility or Work–WAITING, WATCHING, WORKING AND WARNING THE WORLD

Living power must attend the message of Christ's second appearing. We must not rest until we see many souls converted to the blessed hope of the Lord's return. In the days of the apostles the message that they bore wrought a real work, turning souls from idols to serve the living God. The work to be done today is just as real, and the truth is just as much truth; only we are to give the message with as much more earnestness as the coming of the Lord is nearer. The message for this time is positive, simple, and of the deepest importance. We must act like men and women who believe it. Waiting, watching, working, praying, warning the world--this is our work. {AG 353.4}

Our people were moving into line, responding to God's call. My brethren, the Lord is speaking to us. Shall we not heed His call? Shall we not trim our lamps, and act like men who look for their Lord to come? {AG 353.5}

Consider the following

We should not keep from serving others on Sabbath. On the contrary, the Sabbath is a day for serving others.

Jesus healed people on Sabbath, although that was against the strict Pharisaic customs about rest.

He considered this a crucial matter. He even challenged the Pharisees by commanding a man who had just been healed to carry his bed on Sabbath. That was forbidden by their tradition, not by the commandment (Jn. 5:1-17).

God does not want pointless worship that does not lead to loving and caring for others (Is. 58:2-4; 13-14). The Sabbath rest involves service.

Thursday: The Sign That We Belong to God (Rest Dedicated to God – Exo. 31:13; Heb. 4:9-10)

“Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13)

Sign of Existing Relationship with God and His People

As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God's people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and transgressors. {CCh 261.3}

Sign for Sanctification: God the Creator Our Sanctifier

From the pillar of cloud Christ declared concerning the Sabbath: "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath given to the world as the sign of God as the Creator is also the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The power that created all things is the power that re-creates the soul in His own likeness. To those who keep holy the Sabbath day it is the sign of sanctification. True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of His character. And the Sabbath is the sign of obedience. He who from the heart obeys the fourth commandment will obey the whole law. He is sanctified through obedience. {CCh 261.4}

A Distinct Characteristic of God’s People

By the observance of the Sabbath, the children of Israel were to be distinguished from all other nations. "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep," Christ said, "for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." "It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant." Exodus 31:13, 17, 16. {CH 358.3}

The Law is God’s Platform and Line of Demarcation

The line of demarcation between our people and the world must ever be kept unmistakably plain. Our platform is the law of God, in which we are enjoined to observe the Sabbath day, for, as is distinctly stated in the thirty-first chapter of Exodus, the observance of the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people. "Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep," He declares; "for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. . . . It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." {CH 490.1}

We are to heed a "thus saith the Lord," even though by our obedience we cause great inconvenience to those who have no respect for the Sabbath. On one hand we have man's supposed necessities; on the other, God's commands. Which have the greatest weight with us? {CH 490.2}

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Consider the following

The Sabbath is a sign that identifies us as God’s people. It reminds us that we belong to God, and that both our work and our rest are for Him.

This is not a sign exclusive to Abraham’s physical descendants. When we accept Jesus, he become “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29).

The Sabbath reminds us of our origin, our liberation from sin, and our responsibility for the weak.

The Sabbath is quality time with our Creator and Redeemer. He invites us to enter His rest (Heb. 4:9-10).

Friday: Meditation

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death." Has Satan succeeded in removing the sanctity from the day thus distinguished above all others? He has succeeded in putting another day in its stead, but never can he take from it the blessing of the Lord. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant." What can be more positive and clearer than these words? And has God changed? He will remain the same through all eternity, but man "has sought out many inventions." {FE 449.1}

Through the setting up of a false sabbath, the enemy thought to change times and laws. But has he really succeeded in changing God's law? The words of the thirty-first chapter of Exodus are the answer. He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever has declared of the seventh-day Sabbath: "It is a sign between me and you throughout your generations." "It is a sign . . . for ever" (Exodus 31:13, 17). The changed signpost is pointing the wrong way, but God has not changed. He is still the mighty God of Israel. "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing" (Isaiah 40:15). . . . And He is just as jealous for His law now as He was in the days of Ahab and Elijah. {LHU 141.3}

From the above statements, let’s examine ourselves.

Questions to Ponder

1. Has Satan succeeded in removing the sanctity of the Sabbath in our home, our church or community?

2. How can we clearly set an example of true observance of the Saturday Sabbath?

3. Can we stand even the world will persecute and criticize you fiercely?

4. How can you positively demonstrate the sanctify of the Sabbath in the rural places or city life?

5. Will you be willing to sacrifice your work in complying with God’s standard of living the Sabbath Rest?

From the Pen of Inspiration

“The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they are His obedient subjects, that they keep holy His law. The observance of the Sabbath is the means ordained by God of preserving a knowledge of Himself and of distinguishing between His loyal subjects and the transgressors of His law.”

E. G. W. (Testimonies for the Church, book 8, cp. 32, p. 198)

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